On May 22, 1:37 am, "Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote:
Hmm... I'd suggest reading this article by no less than EV Weekly:

Fuel Cells - a Reality Checkhttp://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=730

That article is three years old - as I said, fuel cells are getting
the funding because of their *potential*. Three years later usable
fuel cars exist:

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/05...-with-hydrogen

OK, they're $35m each, but it shows what is feasible :-).

In the last few days, one of the national labs, Los Alamos I think, reported
doubling the energy density of lithium ion batteries while virtually
eliminating thermal runaway.

Yes, the manganese electrode from Argonne. Quite an interesting
development, not least as the researchers didn't expect that level of
success and don't know how come it worked! Currently has severe issues
with the manganese being consumed and excessive oxygen production
(lithium+oxygen=bang). Still, could lead to some interesting
developments. But laptop fuel cell batteries already have 20 hour
endurances, so even a doubling of capacity wouldn't bring li batteries
close to the same level of performance.

Re your efficient V8 - is your engine one which shuts down a bank at
low load? I believe quite a few US V8s do that nowadays, so you were
actually getting 37mpg from a 2.7l I4 :-). Also I can't say I fancy
driving at 45mph everywhere - I measured my European petrol car at
39mpg last year after a 200 mile drive at 90mph.


Dan